Combination cleaning device



July 28, 1959 A. J. RACINE COMBINATION CLEANING DEVICE Filed Nov. 7,1955 2 sheat s-Sheet 1 Fig./

Armand J. Racine INVENTOR.

w mm July 28, 1959 A. J. RAclNE 2,896,240

COMBINATION CLEANING DEVICE Filed Nov. 7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9a Fig.6

Armand J. Racine IN VEN TOR.

BY Mm United States Patent Ofice 2,896,240 Patented July 28, 1959COMBINATION CLEANING DEVICE Armand J. Racine, Cambridge, Mass, assignorto Louis L. Shorette, Malden, Middlesex County, and William L. Shorette,Lynn, Essex County, Mass.

Application November 7, 1955, Serial No. 545,179

1 Claim. (Cl. 15-148) This invention relates to cleaning devices, andparticularly to a cleaning device which has interchangeable cleaningimplements.

An object of the invention is to provide a handle on the end of whichthere are means for releasably connecting a mop, brush, waxer, polisher,or other implement so that the handle functions as a support for aselected one of a number of implements.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination devicecapable of being optionally used as described above, this device beingof simplified construction so that the removal and attachment of thevarious implements are accomplished without a number of adjustments ormanipulations, such as would render use of the combination deviceimpractical.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a combinationcleaning device handle on one end of which there is a frame thatsupports a roller, a second roller held in parallel relationship to thefirst roller and in the frame by a manually releasable latch, the secondroller supporting a selected one of the number of mentioned implementsand others that may occur to those skilled in this art.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer tolike parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top view of the combination cleaning devicewith the mop implement attached and shown in section;

Figure 2 is a side view of the structure in Figure 1; opposite to thecrank handle;

Figure 3 is a side view of the structure in Figure l with the means thatretain one of the rollers Within the frame released;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally onthe plane of line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally onthe plane of line 5-5 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top view of another form of the combinationcleaning device;

Figure 7 is a side view of the device in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of another implement which may be used ineither the device of Figure 1 or the device of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary top view of a further modification whereinpower drive means are attached to the cleaning device; and

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally on the plane ofline 1010 of Figure 9.

In the accompanying drawings, there are illustrated a number ofembodiments of the invention. In each there is a handle 10 which ispreferably of light weight tubular material. However, the handle may bemade solid if found desirable. A U-shaped frame 12 having sides 14 and16 together with a connecting part 18 is fastened intermediate thatconnecting part to the handle 10. Aligned Z apertures in the sides 14and 16 accommodate the trunnions 20 and 22 of roller 23, the latterbeing fitted between the sides of the frame 12. A second roller 24having trunnions 26 and 28 is attached to the sides 14 and 16 of theframe 12 by having the trunnions 26 and 28 retained in slots 30 at theends thereof.

Means retaining the roller '24 within the slot 30 are carried by thecombination cleaning device. The preferred means consists of a yoke 34which comprises a cross member 36 having parallel legs 38 and 40 at theends thereof. Hooks 42 and 44 are formed at the outer ends of each ofthe legs 38' and 40, these hooks embracing the trunnions 26 and 28 andfunctioning as a bearing a between the parallel ears 49 and 50. A pivotpin 51 connects the push rod to the ears 49 and '50, these cars beingfixed to the locking bracket 54.

Bracket'54 is formed as a curved saddle which has a pivot pin 56extending through opposed portions thereof. This pin extends throughaligned slots 58 in the lower end of handle 10. A finger grip 60 risesupwardly from the saddle bracket 54 and is adapted to be held firmly inplace on the handle 10 by means of a pair of spring clips 63,

each consisting of a short spring finger with an inwardly extendingpart. These clips are fixed to the handle .10 in .the normal line oftravel of the saddle bracket 54 so that when this bracket is juxtaposedon the handle 10, it is releasably latched in place by the clips 63.

A spring 66 is disposed in bore 68 that is formed at the lower end ofhandle 10. The spring seats upon a plate'69 that is secured, as by screw70, in one end of bore 68 and also seats upon a plate 72 having abracket depending therefrom which is mounted on the pivot'56.Accordingly, the spring 66 biases plate 72 downwardly in bore 68,tending to'pull the saddle bracket 54 downwardly of the handle. Theresult is that there is a tendency to rotate the saddle bracket 54 aboutpivot pin 51 as an axis, thereby holding the saddle bracket 54 firmly inplace on the handle v10 and in a latched condition. 7 saddle bracket 54is manually actuated, the finger grip 60 is pulled from between thespring clips 63, thereby pivotally actuating the saddle bracket '54about the pin 56 as an axis and pushing rod 46 downwardly of handle 10.This movement separates the hooks 42 and 44 from the trunnions 26 and 28and permits the roller 24 to be separated. One of the implements whichmay be used in connection with the device is the continuous web 75 madeof fabric or other flexible material which is moisture-absorbent. Whenroller 24 is removed the web may be slipped thereon and then the rollerreplaced and latched. Accordingly, the device of Figure l or 2 resultswhereby the device is usable as an ordinary mop. However, when the mopbecomes saturated with liquid or when it is desired to extract liquidfrom the web 75 for any other reason whatsoever, the crank 79 ispivotally swung to a usable position, this crank being pivoted to an endof trunnion 20. Rotation of crank 79 causes roller 23 to rotate and theweb 75 to be moved between the rollers 24 and 23 in order to squeeze theliquid therefrom.

When the web 75 is used for mopping purposes, the web is held firmly inplace between the rollers 23 and 24 by the squeezing action of roller 24toward roller 23. As shown in Figure 2 a part of the web 75 iscompressed between these rollers.

This same squeezing action is resorted to in order to hold otherimplements in the operative, usable position. For example, in Figure 8,the implement is a brush 80 having straps 81 and 82 secured at theirends to the brush body 83. The straps are of such size that they holdthe roller 24 snugly pressed against the brush body 83. Ac-

When the cordingly, in the use of this arrangement, the handle has thebrush 80 attached by fastening roller 24 in frame 12 after the brush issecuredthereto by means of straps 81 and 82. In tightening the saddlebracket 54down against the handle 10, the roller 24 is pulled tightlyupwardly .toward roller 23, squeezing between these :rollers straps 81and 82.

In Figure 6, a further arrangement .is illustrated, this arrangementincluding the handle 10 together with a slightly different structure forholding the roller 90 tightly in place. Frame 12 is identical :to thepreviously mentioned frame 12 in Figure 1, but the yoke 96 is dilferent.It includes legs 97 and 98, each having an inwardly ex,- tending member99 and 100 respectively to which parallel members 101 and 102 areaflixed. Parallel members 101 and 102 are pivoted as at 103 and 104 to abracket 106 intermediate the ends thereof. The lower ends of the bracket106 are pivoted by means of pins 108 to the handle 10, the pin 108extending through aligned slots 109. These slots are identical infunction and construction to the slots 58 and allow the pivot pin 108 totravel longitudinally of the handle 110 against the bias of the springthat is identical to spring 66. Accordingly, the holding of attachment91 and the releasing thereof takes place by actuation of bracket 106 inthe same manner that actuation of saddle bracket 54 released roller 24.

The implement or attachment 91 comprises a base about which a waxercloth or sander 92 is attached. Straps 94 and 95 are secured at theirends to the base and are in tight embrace with the roller 90. Afterapplying the straps 94 and 95 to the roller 90, the roller is secured tothe frame 12 in the same manner that the roller 24 is secured to theframe in connection with the embodiment of Figure 1. Then the device isready for use as a waxer.

Although other attachments may be used in connection with the handle 10,practical limitations as to space prohibit the illustration anddescription of the numerous attachments which may be held by straps orthe like be tween the rollers of Figure 1 or Figure 6.

In addition to the manual crank 79 for actuating the rollers,theserollers may be power operated as by a motor-driven, flexible cable 120which has a coupling 122 at one end this coupling having a non-circularbore therein. The end of one of the trunnions of roller 23 is similarlyshaped in order to fit in the non-circular bar whereby drive connectionfor the roller 23 may be established.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

In a combination appliance, a handle having a bore at one end, aU-shaped frame having sides and a cross memher, said cross membersecured intermediate its ends to said end of said handle, said sideshaving a pair of apertures therein, a first roller mounted for rotationin said apertures, said sides having a pair of outwardly opening slotsat the ends thereof, asecond roller having trunnions at the ends thereofand disposed in said slots, an implement that has means thereon attachedto said second roller and clamped between said first and second rollers,means including a yoke for securing said second roller in said I 7 slotsand for holding said secondroller in place, said yoke having sides withhooks at the outer extremities thereof and in engagement with saidtrunnions, a latch connected with said yoke and including a bracket,means slidably and pivotally securing said bracketto said handle, aspring reacting on said bracket sliding and pivotally securing means anddisposedin said bore in said handle and opposing the movement of saidbracket in one direction and aiding the pivotal movement of the bracketin the other direction with respect to said handle, and said yokepivoted to said bracket for .motion in response to the spring urgedmovement of the entire bracket with respect to the handle and also formotion caused by pivotally operating said bracket on said handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS699,313 Held May 6, 1902 1,020,809 Dupre Mar. 19, 1912 1,026,625 DupreMay 14, 1912 1,999,450 Fatland Apr. 30, 1935 2,653,337 Bathurst Sept.29, 1953

